Hunt reveals Perth CBD's hidden treasures

There’s plenty of things for staycationers to do around the CBD … museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants, Elizabeth Quay

ButThe West Australian has scoured the city streets and found some interesting places to visit that may not appear on the standard tourist guide.

It‘s hard to believe that video games have been around long enough to have their own museum. But they do. And it’s in Aberdeen Street in Northbridge.The Nostalgic Box was set up by local entrepreneur Jessie Yeoh and has more than 100 different consoles on display, dating back to the 1970s. For enthusiasts, it’s the opportunity to relive some of those childhood – and maybe even adulthood – memories. Remember playing Super Mario Bros. on the “advanced” Nintendo entertainment system? The Nostalgic Box is open seven days a week from 9.30pm to 5pm. Adults are $14, with concession tickets for others.

Moana Coffee is a balcony café in a restored heritage building on the Hay Street Mall. The building is about 100 years old and has been many different things in its lifetime – a shoe store, a tea room, even a ball room. With the original staircase, the tin-pressed ceilings, the jarrah floorboards and the plasterwork arches, a visit is literally a step back in time. And drinking coffee or enjoying a light meal from the balcony provides a very different perspective to the city below. There is also room for regular artist-run exhibitions.

For something completely different – and very healthy – there’sNordic Walking WA . Using specially designed poles, Nordic walking is said to be the fastest growing fitness activity in the world because it can provide a full-body workout and burn more calories than regular walking. For just $5 (plus the hire of the poles), seniors can do some Nordic walking out of Queens Gardens from 10.30am every Tuesday. And, for the same price and at the same time, walkers of all ages and fitness levels can walk along the South Perth foreshore every Thursday.

To mark the 30th anniversary of its Sister State relationship with WA, the people of the Hyogo Prefecture in Japan gifted aFriendship Garden to the people in WA in 2013. Located in the Dumas House precinct in Havelock Street West Perth, the tranquil gardens were designed by Professor Yue Shen from the University of Hyogo. He came to Perth to supervise its construction, along with several Japanese garden experts. It has become a beautiful, quiet corner of Perth’s busy CBD.

Down the rejuvenated Grand Lane between Barrack and Wellington streets lies theMuseum of Perth , an interesting space that chronicles the social, cultural, political and architectural history of Perth. Run by the not-for-profit Perth History Association, the photograph-laden museum also serves as a meeting place, a retail space, a café, a micro-cinema and a cultural hub. Its location in what was a previously a forgotten part of the city is a nice counterpoint to the museum’s objectives.

For something a bit more surreal, what about thebird cage seats hanging from the branches of a giant Moreton Bay Fig tree in Murray Street, just down from Victoria Square. At the top of each cage are kissing birds forming a love heart – a reference to the tree’s history as “the kissing tree”, when nurses from Royal Perth Hospital used to say goodbye to their sweethearts before returning to their lodgings at Kirkman House.

For something more cerebral, there’s thepublic chess table on Lake Street in Northbridge. A permanent fixture of the street, it is available to anyone at any time. Participants can either bring along their own pieces or borrow some from the staff at Shots Café next door.